02 June 2024 , 14:04
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Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has been made to rethink his plans for Anthony Joshua's future after Daniel Dubois' surprise victory over Filip Hrgovic.
Hearn previously dismissed Dubois as not being an elite heavyweight just hours before the fight, but he was left eating his words after the Briton's knockout of Croat contender Hrgovic. Meanwhile, a potential match-up between Joshua and Deontay Wilder now seems highly unlikely.
The Bronze Bomber's fall from grace continued after a fifth-round knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang marked Wilder's fourth loss in five fights. The showdown took place as part of Queensberry Promotions' 5v5 tournament against Matchroom Sport on Saturday, forcing Hearn to reassess the realistic options ahead of Joshua, having suggested Hrgovic and Wilder as likely next opponents.
Speaking on the True Geordie podcast (via the Daily Express), the Matchroom boss said: "I thought to myself, 'Who are we gonna make captain? Who's the biggest name on the team? Who's gonna go last? Who can give us drama like no-one else can? Who can spin this narrative even further that, not just is Wilder in the team, he's the captain of the team.'
"Because I've gotta pump Wilder up, y'know? Because you can become deflated in this game real quick - well, even in life. All of a sudden you don't think you're the man anymore. And I get into him, I pump him up, and I make him that bad motherf****r once again. And I want him to go in there and knock Zhilei Zhang spark out on double points to maybe even come from behind and win the whole tournament."
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In a surprising turn of events, the Queensberry team mopped up Hearn's Matchroom squad in Riyadh, securing a 10-0 victory after five wins from as many fights. Zhang, Dubois and Hamzah Sheeraz were instrumental in this triumph, each scoring knockout victories to boost their team's points total for the night.
Hearn didn't anticipate that outcome, which was especially true in the case of Dubois' commanding performance against Hrgovic. Prior to the fight, Hearn had expressed confidence in his fighter's chances, downplaying Dubois' credentials as a top-tier talent.
Eddie Hearn was forced to eat his words after dismissing Daniel Dubois (Getty)"People have talked about Hrgovic for a long time as an elite heavyweight" he said. "But the biggest win in his career is Zhang in a fight that could have gone either way. His mother passed away a couple of weeks before - I don't think he was 100% - but look at Dubois.
"He just beat Jarrell Miller - decent. He fought [Oleksandr] Usyk and had him over in a marginal [low blow]. It could have gone the other way and he beats Oleksandr Usyk. He boxed Joe Joyce. He's been around now, Dubois. But I do think Hrgovic is an elite heavyweight, and I don't think Dubois is."
Another piece of Hearn analysis was proved to be inaccurate as Dubois left Hrgovic a bloody mess to claim the interim IBF title. The referee called off the bout in the eighth round, marking the biggest win of Dynamite's career to date and likely changing Hearn's perception of his talents in the process.
Dubois pulled off the biggest win of his career to set up a potential showdown with Joshua (Getty)Hearn suggested the winner between Hrgovic and Dubois would likely face Joshua for the vacant IBF title in September. He added the caveat that AJ could take on Wilder if the American performed well against Zhang, though his lacklustre display means that fight is now all but impossible.
"If Deontay Wilder knocks out Zhilei Zhang, and his excellency says, 'That fight is back,'" Hearn added in comments that have already aged poorly. "Don't forget, that fight was signed. We were supposed to announce that fight in the ring on December 23. If he looks sensational against Zhang, the whole world's gonna be calling for Wilder against Joshua again. And we can do that at Wembley."
With fights against Wilder and Hrgovic now seemingly off the table, AJ will likely face off against Dubois in a Battle of Britain later this year. However, Zhang will also hope he's in the race to land a fight opposite Hearn's star man.